Kohima, Sept. 12: The Border Roads Task Force has stopped work at two places in the state following a spate of robberies in the past few months.

In the past 10 days, two robberies have taken place in Kohima and Wokha districts. In these two incidents, armed miscreants looted Rs 80,000 in cash meant for labourers’ salaries. In other incidents, labourers have also been looted.

The force has called off work on the Wokha-Bokajan road till security is provided. Work near Viswema on National Highway 39 has also been called off as labourers have left the locations.

In the first incident on September 4, six unidentified persons barged into the labour camp on the highway and demanded money from the labourers. When the latter refused, the miscreants robbed them of Rs 45,000 at gunpoint. One labourer was injured. The BRTF has lodged a complaint with police.

On September 7, five unidentified men entered the camp and looted Rs 35,275 and took away identity cards of two officers. The men were wearing khaki uniforms with black jackets and khaki berets, BRTF sources said.

Commandant Col. B. Bhattacharjee said the force cannot resume work as labourers are scared. “Most of the labourers are from Jharkhand and Bihar. The word has spread, so no one is ready to work in Nagaland,” he said. “We have many spots in the interiors and unless these unarmed men are secure, we can’t carry out our duties”. He said the cooperation of local administration and people was of utmost importance.

The home secretary and the director-general of police have been briefed about the situation. This year has been bad for the force. A robbery had taken place at Longmatra in Kiphire district on July 10 and another one took place last month in the Akuluto area of Zunheboto district.